Tauck Announces Godmothers For New Ship 
12.02.2014
Tauck Announces Godmothers For New Ship
Tauck will honour its four female Cruise Directors by having them serve collectively as Godmothers for their new MS Inspire at its christening in Basel on April 3.
The Inspire (above) is the first of two new Inspiration-class riverboats being launched by Tauck this year, with the christening on April 3 in Basel, Switzerland. The second vessel, MS Savor, will be christened on June 21 in Rudesheim, Germany, the company also announced today.
The four Cruise Directors who will share the christening honours are Bridget Ashton, Lynn Hardcastle, Mary Pierik and Eszter Pusztai. Four male Tauck Cruise Directors, Tod Griswold, Scott Peters, Jeremy Shifferly and Steve Marchant, will also attend the ceremonies in supporting roles, and will likewise be honoured for their efforts. Marchant will stay with the Inspire following a subsequent three-day christening cruise and serve as the new ship’s cruise director as it officially enters service on April 7.
Tauck CEO Dan Mahar explained: “Our Cruise Directors and Tauck Directors have collectively been the face of our company for 89 years. They are the direct, critical link between Tauck and our guests, and they do an absolutely incredible job delivering the Tauck experience. I know I speak for our entire staff when I say we’re thrilled to be recognising our Tauck Cruise Directors, and by extension, our global team of Tauck Directors, at the Inspire’s christening.”
Each Tauck ship has a Tauck Cruise Director aboard, who is in charge of the overall guest experience, working with the ship’s maritime, hotel and restaurant staff and managing the team of three Tauck Directors, or Tauck guides, assigned to each riverboat. The Tauck Directors in turn provide onboard commentary and service, assist in the delivery of the onboard guest experience and lead Tauck’s exclusive shore excursions.
The new Inspiration-class riverboats will be 443ft long and have a capacity of just 130 guests to ensure a less-crowded, more relaxed and intimate ambiance. Each will also have twenty-two 300sq ft suites furnished with two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows, a pull-out couch, a roomy walk-in closest with built-in drawers and a spacious bathroom with rain shower.
Along with the suites, the new-builds will also have thirty-two 225sq ft cabins, plus an additional 13 ranging from 150-190sq ft. In keeping with Tauck’s policy of welcoming single travellers, four of the 150sq ft cabins are set aside for guests travelling solo.
Eight of the thirty-two 225sq ft cabins on each vessel will be located on the lower (Emerald) deck and feature an innovative “loft” design with a raised platform seating area. Located against the ship’s hull/outer wall, each seating area will have a small table with two chairs, plus a raised ceiling that allows the use of a much taller window than can normally be incorporated into lower-level cabins. The middle portion of this window can be opened electronically for fresh air and, being taller, the window will allow more natural light to fill the cabin.
In addition to launching its two new ships, Tauck is also launching four new itineraries this year, including its first ever on the River Seine in France.
More info: visit www.tauck.com or call (in the US) 1800 468 2825.